Orah (film)

Last updated
Orah
Directed by Lonzo Nzekwe
Written byLonzo Nzekwe
Produced byAmos Adetuyi
Floyd Kane
Lonzo Nzekwe
Starring Oyin Oladejo
Lucky Ejim
CinematographyRicardo Diaz
Edited byMarc Roussel
Music byFelipe Téllez
Production
company
Circle Blue Entertainment
Distributed by Levelfilm
Release date
  • September 23, 2023 (2023-09-23)(Cinéfest)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Orah is a Canadian crime thriller film, written and directed by Lonzo Nzekwe, and released in 2023. [1] The film stars Oyin Oladejo as Orah Madukaku, a Nigerian woman who moved to Canada as a refugee after intentionally killing a man in her youth. Getting involved in a money laundering scheme in the hopes of finally being able to bring her son to Canada, she runs afoul of ringleader Bami Hazar (Lucky Ejim), who orders the murder of her son, sparking Orah to go on a revenge spree to settle the score. [2]

Contents

The cast also includes Morgan Bedard, Agape Mngomezulu, Somkele Iyamah, Oris Erhuero, OC Ukeje, Christopher Seivright, Chris Farquhar, Emeka Nwagbaraocha, Femi Lawson, Jim Calarco, Tina Mba, Phil Popp, Ruby Akubueze, Angel Oduko, Eric Obinna, Novo Imonieroh, Moc Madu and Kelechi Udegbe. The film soundtracked two songs from Charles Onyeabor debut album, Like Father, Like Son, “They Can’t Pull Us Down” and “Ije Nwoke”. [3]

Production

The film was shot principally in Sudbury, Ontario, in 2022, [1] with some later location shooting in Lagos, Nigeria where it was art directed by Nigerian production designer and art director, Abisola Omolade. [4] [5]

Distribution

The film was selected and screened for industry professionals at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, in the Industry Selects program. [6] The film had its official public premiere at the 2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival. [7] The film was selected as the opening film at the 2023 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). [8] The film screened at the 23rd annual 2023 ReelWorld Film Festival held from November 1st to 7th, 2023 in Toronto and won two awards: Outstanding Feature Film Writer for Lonzo Nzekwe, and Outstanding Feature Film Actress for Oyin Oladejo. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival</span> Film festival in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, also known as Cinéfest and Cinéfest Sudbury is an annual film festival in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, held over nine days each September. It is one of the largest film festivals in Canada.

Reelworld Film Festival, founded in 2001 by Tonya Williams, is held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The festival screens film and provides professional development for Canadian racially diverse and indigenous filmmakers and media artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. P. Paquette</span> Canadian filmmaker

Benjamin Patrick Paquette, commonly known as B. P. Paquette, is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, film producer and academic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlem International Film Festival</span> Annual film festival in Harlem, New York, US

The Harlem International Film Festival (Hi) is an annual five-day film festival in Harlem, New York. The first festival took place in 2005. Michael Franti's I Know I'm Not Alone was named Best International Documentary at the festival that year. The short film Eme Nakia was selected to be screened at the 2006 festival. Also that year, The Hip Hop Project produced by Queen Latifah and Bruce Willis was named Best Documentary Film. Nigerian film Anchor Baby was named Best Film at the 2010 festival and won another award there as well. Omoni Oboli was named Best Actress that year. Najat Jellab's short film The Projectionist premiered at the 2013 festival. The festival named Vanessa L. Williams Best Actress one year. Short film In The Field, directed by Matthew Hope, was screened at the festival one year.:)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blossom Chukwujekwu</span> Nigerian actor

Blossom Chukwujekwu is a Nigerian actor, who made his professional acting debut in 2009. In 2015, he won the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

<i>Hex</i> (2015 film) 2015 film directed by Clarence Peters

Hex is a 2015 Nigerian horror short film directed by Clarence Peters. Screened and premiered on 12 November 2015 at the 5th Africa International Film Festival, Hex went on to win the award for "Best Short Film" at the same event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Kabongo</span> Canadian actor, producer (born 1986)

Emmanuel Kabongo is a Canadian actor and producer. Born and raised in Zaire, now present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kabongo immigrated to Canada and began his acting career as an extra before achieving recognition for his performance as the lead protagonist in the acclaimed web series Teenagers (2014–2017), for which he earned his first Canadian Screen Award nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonzo Nzekwe</span> Nigerian filmmaker

Lonzo Nzekwe is a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. He creates transnational Nigerian content, including Anchor Baby, his 2010 debut film which premiered at the 2010 Harlem International Film Festival and won the Best Film award. Anchor Baby was released on Netflix on May 20, 2020. His second film, Meet The Parents won the award for "Best Short Film" at the 2016 Africa Movies Academy Awards (AMAA).

Ariane Louis-Seize is a Canadian film director and screenwriter from Quebec.

<i>Girl</i> (2020 film) 2020 film

Girl is a 2020 thriller film written and directed by Chad Faust. The films stars Bella Thorne as a young woman known only as Girl, who returns to her hometown with the intention of murdering her abusive father, only to discover that somebody else has already murdered him. The film's cast also includes Faust, Elizabeth Saunders, Mickey Rourke, Lanette Ware and Glen Gould. The film was shot in 2019 in Sudbury, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oyin Oladejo</span> Nigerian-born Canadian actress (born 1985)

Oyin Oladejo is a Nigerian-born Canadian actress, known for portraying Joann Owosekun on the television series Star Trek: Discovery.

James Amuta is a film producer, director, aerial cinematographer and publicist. He is best known for his documentary film "Nightfall in Lagos" which was nominated for the best documentary film in 2018 by the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Award.

<i>Bite of a Mango</i> 2022 Canadian comedy-drama film

Bite of a Mango is a 2022 Canadian drama/comedy film written by Joanne Jansen and Ron Dias and directed by Dias in his directorial debut. The film stars Jayne Kamara, Ryan Rosery, Orville Cummings, Nathan Taylor, and Shawna Stewart.

<i>The Planters Plantation</i> 2022 Cameroonian film

The Planter's Plantation is a 2022 Cameroonian musical drama film written, produced and directed by Eystein Young Dingha. An allegory to neocolonization, the film is Cameroon's entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Academy Awards. It won two special prizes at the 2023 FESPACO namely The Ousmane Sembene Special Prize and the Plan International Price for a film on the rights of Women and the girl child. The Film has been highly acclaimed for its selection and outstanding performances in festival such as The African International Film Festival, FESPACO, Ecran Noirs Film festival, Uganda Film Festival, Luanda Film Festival, Khouribga International Film Festival, Yarha Film Festival, Al Ain Film Festival, Montpellier Film Festival, Cameroon International film festival where it won prices ranging from Best Film, Ecran D’Or, Best Actress. It made history for being the first Cameroonian film to be nominated for an AMVCA for its best Actress Nimo Loveline.

Doug and the Slugs and Me is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Teresa Alfeld and released in 2022. The film documents the history of the 1980s Canadian rock band Doug and the Slugs, jumping off from Alfeld's own childhood friendship with bandleader Doug Bennett's daughter Shea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Onyeabor</span> Italian-Nigerian musician

Charles Onyekachi Onyeabor is an Italian-Nigerian singer, songwriter and businessman. He is the eldest son of electro Afro-funk pioneer William Onyeabor. After debuting in 2020, his debut studio album, Like Father, Like Son was released in November 2023. As described by BBC, Charles Onyeabor continues to keep his father's legacy alive in his music.

Abisola Abolaji Omolade is a Nigerian art director, production designer, beauty queen, and former accountant.

Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story is a 2023 Nigerian film directed by Kayode Kasum and predominantly tells the story of the Igbo apprenticeship system in Nigeria. The film which is the first ever feature length film on the Igbo apprenticeship system in Nigeria was also largely filmed in Igbo language. The cast includes Kanayo O. Kanayo, Stan Nze, Alexx Ekubo, Atlanta Bridget Johnson, Segun Arinze.

References

  1. 1 2 Angelica Babiera, "Circle Blue, Freddie Films, IronFlix team up on Orah". Playback , November 21, 2022.
  2. Etan Vlessing, "Oyin Oladejo Nabs Lead in Refugee Revenge Drama ‘Orah’". The Hollywood Reporter , November 16, 2022.
  3. "CHARLES ONYEABOR torna con il singolo 'Black or White' feat. Luna". Fai Informazione - Social News (in Italian). 2024-04-23. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  4. "Lonzo Nzekwe wraps up principal photography on ORAH". The Guardian , December 10, 2022.
  5. Okanlawon, Taiwo (August 22, 2023). "Nigerian Film 'Orah' Art directed by Abisola Omolade to Shine at Toronto". Vanguard (Nigeria) .
  6. Jeremy Kay, "James Marsh, Rebecca Snow, Neil Burger films among 12 TIFF Industry Selects sales titles". Screen Daily , August 21, 2023.
  7. Clement Goh, "Cinéfest Sudbury marks 35 years with focus on comedy and vampires". CBC Northern Ontario, August 23, 2023.
  8. BellaNaija, "AFRIFF 2023 to Open with Lonzo Nzekwe’s Crime Thriller “Orah”. "BellaNaija", October 27, 2023.
  9. ReelWorld Screen Institute, "23RD REELWORLD FILM FESTIVAL+SUMMIT AWARDS”. "Reelworld Film Festival", November 7, 2023.